Black Pepper Free Garden Mint Citrus Cooler
This refreshing drink is everything a warm-weather cooler should be — bright, herbal, and just sweet enough to feel like a treat. Fresh orange and lime juice bring a punchy citrus backbone, while a homemade mint simple syrup made with maple syrup adds a floral, earthy sweetness that store-bought mixes simply can't replicate. The steeping step is where the magic happens: gently bruising the mint leaves before letting them rest in the warm syrup coaxes out every bit of fragrance without any bitterness. Sparkling water gets folded in at the end with a light stir, keeping those bubbles lively all the way to the last sip. For anyone navigating spice sensitivities, this recipe is naturally free of any hidden heat — every ingredient is straightforward and easy to verify. Dress it up with a lime wedge and a fresh mint sprig and it looks as good as it tastes, whether you're serving it at a backyard gathering or just treating yourself on a Tuesday afternoon.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the mint simple syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed, plus more for garnish
For the cooler
- 1 cup fresh orange juice (from about 3 medium oranges)
- ⅓ cup fresh lime juice (from about 3 limes)
- 3 cups sparkling water, chilled
- 2 cups ice cubes
For serving
- 4 lime wedges (optional)
- 4 small fresh mint sprigs (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the water and maple syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the maple syrup fully dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- 2
Add the mint leaves to the warm syrup and press them gently with a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon until fragrant and slightly bruised. Let the mint steep for 15 minutes, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher, pressing the leaves to extract as much syrup as possible. Discard the spent mint.
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